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The GameMasters Secret's
Played Like A Pro

I really don't play enough Blackjack. The games here in the St. Louis area are just so-so and I guess that has caused my enthusiasm to wane a bit. Recognizing this, I set out to get in some good sessions at various casinos to revitalize my attitude and make some $$$ at the same time. I found some good games out there and I have to tell you that the "pit critters" (as we lovingly call the casino game supervisors) are just dead on their feet with boredom. That's a good deal for me so I thought I'd see what I could get away with at a $25 table. Exactly what I did and how I did it is a story for another time, because I want to tell you about a small incident that occurred which provided the inspiration for this article.

A young man had been playing the table with me and he was a fairly good player. Not a counter by any means, but a good Basic Strategy player, nonetheless. Anyway, we were going along, chatting a bit and neither of us was winning or losing very much when he got dealt a pair of 9s. The dealer was showing an 8 and I was afraid that my new friend would stand and hope for a push, but he did the right thing and split the pair. Since he had $50 out there, he put up another $50 for the split and the first 9 got a 2. The casino allows double after split and he put up another $50 to do so. His double card was an Ace, so he had 12 on the first hand. That took all his chips, so when the second 9 was hit with a 9, he hesitated. But, to his credit, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a $100 bill.

"Split 'em", he said as he laid the bill on the table.

The dealer changed it up and made a third hand with that 9, went back to the second hand and hit it with a 2. The kid put his last $50 up and doubled. The double card was a 2. The third 9 caught an Ace for a 20. So, here he was with $250 on the table with a 12 and a 13 and a 20 against the dealer's 8. I had A-8 and stood. The dealer turned over a 3 and I heard the young man groan. Then came an Ace, then a Queen, so the dealer busted. The relief was all over the face of the young man and I offered a compliment:

"Played like a pro. Congratulations."

Hands shaking, he smiled as he scooped up his $250 profit.

"I was worried", he said.

"I understand", I replied.

That fact is, he had played it like a pro. But what is, "playing like a pro"? Of course, it's mostly knowing the proper Basic Strategy for the game, but it's more than that.

I often say that the difference between a "pro" and a "recreational" player is that a pro will, after losing 10 doubled hands in a row, double the next hand if that's the proper play. Pros don't hope they'll win; they know they'll win. The win may not come on the very next hand, but they'll keep making the proper play just the same.

Playing like a pro isn't necessarily fun, but it is satisfying. When at a Blackjack game, I'm like a machine. Every hand I'm dealt has a predetermined way to play it and that's what I do, period. No hunches, no guessing, no wishing and no praying. I have, after many years of this, removed almost all the emotion from the game. The "highs" aren't very high, but the "lows" aren't very low, either.

A lot of players get ahead early in the playing session, then kick themselves for not quitting if the profit vanishes, as it has a way of doing. I never beat myself up over something like that because I know I have the edge so the longer I play, the more I'll make. If I was up $600 or $700 at some point and walk away with only a $100 profit, or even a loss, there are no regrets. The only time I admonish myself is if I was playing while tired, since I might be making mistakes. Beyond that, I fully realize that bankroll swings are part of the game and I always have the satisfaction of knowing that the casino will take good care of my $$$ until I come back to get it. Knowledge instills confidence and confidence instills patience.

Another way to play like a pro is to have a "bag of tricks." Being skilled at more than one beatable game is a definite plus but it's also important to recognize opportunities that present themselves. For example, do you know what it's worth to you if your local casino offers 4 x the regular cash back rebate? Such a bonus may make some Video Poker games very profitable, so it pays to know the numbers involved. If a Double Down Stud game in your local casino has a progressive Royal Flush jackpot, calculate the level it needs to be at to give you a 100+% return on the game. (Don't forget about the machine versions of the game, either). You probably shouldn't play them anyway, but at least with the calculations done you'll know you're playing with an edge if you do.

A pro seeks out opportunities like this, but plays them only when the proper strategy is known and the calculations for the return have been made. Pros don't take bets based on intuition or luck...they take calculated risks only.

Another important part of being a pro is to be adequately financed. No matter how good you are, there's no way you can expect to win at Blackjack with just 10 or 12 bets in your hand. Sure, anyone can get lucky, but pros eliminate the vagaries of luck by having more than enough $$$ to play the game.

Now please understand that I'm eliminating games like Roulette, Craps, Baccarat, etc. from this discussion. Pros play those games sometimes, but not with the expectation of winning. I like Craps, but I play it only as entertainment. Risking $100 or so at Baccarat is no different to me than spending $100 for a good bottle of wine. It's enjoyable and fun, but I don't expect to make a profit from either activity.

Another big difference between pros and recreational players is record-keeping. Pros keep accurate records, not only for tax purposes, but also to keep track of exactly what's happening with all their play. It's easy to fool yourself into thinking that you're ahead at the slots but good records will indicate if that's true or not.

I feel a "sermon" coming on, so I'll spare you that and stop right here. But do your best to adopt as many traits of the pros as possible because they can turn you into a winner.

See you here next time.